Ontario, CA – Every two years, the Federation of Jain Associations in North America (JAINA) (in partnership with a local Jain center community – organizes a biennial convention in North America, drawing thousands of diaspora attendees and distinguished speakers not only from the US and Canada but also from India, UK, Middle-East, Australia and East Asia. This year, JAINA partnered with the Jain Center of Southern California (JCSC) and Jain Center of Los Angeles (JCLA) hosted JAINA’s 20th Biennial Convention at Ontario Convention Center (OCC) in Ontario, California, just east of Los Angeles.
After two years in planning, JAINA in partnership with the two host centres of Southern California, Jain Center of Southern California and Jain Center of Los Angeles, delivered an incredibly successful convention last weekend, at a sold-out venue in Ontario Convention Center, Southern California from July 4 to July 7. This year’s convention theme was appropriately coined as “Jain Religion in the 21st Century”.
In the opening session, Convener Mr Mahesh Wadher and Co-conveners, Dr Nitin Shah and Dr Jasvant Modi, warmly welcomed and explained aspects of the theme, logo and purpose of the convention, highlighting its five distinct tracks of enrichment about Jain principles and practices. These tracks represent the five key elements – Seva, Satsang, Samarpan, Sadhana, and Self-Realization and other tracks on focus groups, including for Young Jain Professionals, Young Adults, youths, and Jain Connect. The five tracks depicted in the convention logo represented the steps in a path of progression of a spiritual journey towards achieving moksha, the final liberation. This convention was extraordinary also from its attendee demographics in that it attracted over 600 youths and young adults among the 3,450 attendees.
In addition to thought-provoking speeches by invited Keynotes and leading Jain thought leaders, the convention was also graced by pre-recorded speeches from several India based revered Jain acharyas. Further, the convention was sanctified by presence of 22 invited Jain sadhus, sadhavis, scholars and spiritual guides who have significant diaspora following, such as; Acharya Shri Chandanaji (Founder of Veerayatan International, Rajgir, India), Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni (Founder of Ahimsa Vishwabharti, New Delhi, India), Bhattarakji Charukeerthiji (of Jain Digamber Math Moodbidri, Karnataka, India), and Gurudev Shri Rakeshbhai Jhaveri (Founder of Srimad Rajchandra Ashram, Dharampur, India).
Resonating the themes and major tracks of this convention to illustrate commonalities the world’s great religions have with Jainism’s core teachings of Ahimsa (Non-Violence), Aparigraha (Non-Attachment) and Anekantavada (Non-Absolutism), invited keynotes from leaders of multiple faiths and global service organizations addressed the gathering’s four General sessions and an Interfaith Roundtable – they were represented by Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and Christianity.
There were 90 distinguished speakers including professors, medical doctors, astronomers, climate scientists, animal rights activists, vegan advocates, scholars, and other subject-matter experts. Besides 12 keynote lectures, the Convention featured 86 breakout sessions among its 8 parallel tracks – several lectures were repeated due to attracting capacity crowds. These scholars and speakers were the stars of this JAINA Convention that recharged everyone’s spiritual batteries.
Each dignitary keynote speaker left a lasting impression on the audience on the significance of our human life and the many opportunities it provides for self-improvement. Each speaker conveyed impactful messages about living in harmony and peace while striking a balance towards multiple aspects of duties towards mankind and other living beings.
At the Welcoming Ceremony, the attendees observed a moment of silence in recognizing the immense contributions by Jain pioneers to the West, Late Gurudev Shri Chitrabhanuji, Late Acharya Sushil Kumarji Maharaj, and Late Amrendra Muniji; all deserve the community’s credit for their grassroots efforts in establishing Jain community organization such as JAINA, Siddhachalam and other institutions in North America.
Credits: JAINA Newsletter dated 10th July 2019: http://www.jaina.org/members/EmailOptPreferences.aspx?id=58267788&e=jvmehta2000@gmail.com&h=8824ccc0cc8a30895c14a8bca204533bceb2b822